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Pennsylvania

When to catch Erie Refugeat its best

Erie Refuge through the year: spring migration (local timing: from March to early April), fall foliage (usually mid-October) and winter wildlife (local timing: from September to November). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat sunny, 66°F · Sun slight chance rain showers, 67°F
  • Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go

When are you going?

Fall at Erie Refuge

Where to go at Erie Refuge

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Fall
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Spring migration

Fall foliage

Winter wildlife

Next 7 days at Erie Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayMostly Cloudy74° / 60°46% rain
  • ThuChance Rain Showers76° / 60°58% rain
  • FriRain Showers67° / 44°100% rain
  • SatSunny66° / 44°4% rain
  • SunSlight Chance Rain Showers67° / 43°18% rain
  • MonMostly Sunny57° / 35°6% rain
  • TueSunny57° / 36°–

Heads up: Near-freezing night (low 35°F): Monday Night, Tuesday Night.

Today: sunrise 7:16 a.m., sunset 7:05 p.m., light until 7:33 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Visitor reports, not verified

Been here in the last week? Tell us how the trees looked.

What color were the trees?

Tap the one that looks most like what you saw.

One report per place for each day you saw it, no name or email · How reports work · Terms · Privacy

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Erie Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
A pond with lily pads in front of a forest in fall color
Fall foliage at Erie National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: USFWS · public domain
A slow creek lined with green marsh plants and lily pads reflects white clouds, with a low tree line behind
Emergent marsh along Dead Creek at Erie National Wildlife Refuge (date not given). Photo: Y. Laskaris/USFWS · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

Which ducks and geese might I see?

Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, blue-winged teal and hooded mergansers are the ones the refuge says you can readily see.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What time of day is best?

Early morning for birds; mammals are more likely early in the morning or at dusk.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is there somewhere indoors to watch birds?

Yes. The Visitor Contact Station has an indoor viewing area with seats, binoculars and ID guides, looking out on feeding stations; microphones bring the birdsong inside.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Erie National Wildlife Refuge wildlife watching ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What does fall look like here?

Mid-October, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service: yellow American beech, black cherry and striped maple against dark green evergreens.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 30